The agreement to restrict non-member states from attending the forthcoming Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting next week in Honiara is seen to signal a risk of fragmentation. But the decision appears to be less controversial and more prudent when considering the context. While external influence is real, and this can tear at the connections that bind the members, deeper internal questions now confront Pacific leaders. Limiting outside voices is a choice that ensures the Pacific can align itself. The Pacific Islands region is not like anywhere else in the world. There is a long tradition of consensus-building, which, though slow and full of nuance, continues to draw members back into the fold. Fiji and the Micronesian states re-entering the forum after their respective issues are indicative of the value placed on being included in the regional association.
The Pacific’s diplomatic retreat from great power competition | Lowy Institute
